Singapore to Enact Mandatory E-Waste Regulatory System

The system basically uses the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) approach, whereby manufacturers and importers of electronic products would be required to take back a proportion of the products sold by them.

According to the minister, the proposed system will focus on five main categories of electronic waste-Information technology and Communication devices such as computers and accessories, mobile phones; solar panels; batteries; lamps and large household appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines etc. Estimates suggest that the above five product categories account for nearly 90% of the total e-waste generated in the country, Khor said. The country generates approximately 60,000 tonnes of electronic waste every year. Also, recent survey found that only 6% of household e-waste is recycled.

The system basically uses the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) approach, whereby manufacturers and importers of electronic products would be required to take back a proportion of the products sold by them, when they are finally discarded. The National Environment Agency (NEA) would issue licenses to authorized Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs), who in turn would collaborate with electronic retailers to voluntarily set up e-waste collection points. It must be noted that multinational retailers such as Courts, Harvey Norman and Gain City have already decided to provide e-waste recycling bins at their stores.

The NEA will set collection targets for producers. These targets will be reviewed periodically. The producers who fail to meet the target will be penalized, at a later stage in the implementation of the new e-waste regulatory framework.

The licensing process of e-waste recycling facilities by the NEA is currently under process and is expected to be completed by August this year.